Folding table leg structure with spring latch



A 1954 c. T. DE PUY 2,685,489

' FOLDING TABLE LEG STRUCTURE WITH SPRING LATCH Filed Aug. 1:5, 1955 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v INVENTOR. CHARLES 7. DEPUY ATTORNEY l BY M W-/3Z 24 w I Aug. 3, 1954 c. T. DE PUY FOLDING TABLE LEG STRUCTURE WITH SPRING LATCH Filed Aug. 15, 1953 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CHARLES I DEPUY A TTDRNE Y Patented Aug. 3, 1954 FOLDING TABLE LEG STRUCTURE WITH SPRING LATCH Charles '1. De-Pu-y, Brighton, 'N. Y., assignor to Trimble, Inc.,..Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Application August 13, 1953, Serial No. 373,985

4 Claims.- 1

This invention relates to a folding table or standfor serving purposes, and has'for its purpose to afford a structure including-two inverted U-shaped leg frames which are collapsible against the bottom of the table body in a ready and convenient manner, and which support the tablefirmly when in operative position.

A further purpose of the invention is to afford a simple'structure employing two inverted U- shaped leg frames that can be economically manufactured and in which the leg frames can be compactly folded against the table body when the latter is to be packed or stored.

Still a further object of the invention is to afford improved means for supporting and securely locking inverted U-shaped leg frames in operative position against accidental displacement, so that they can be readily released and moved from operativeto inoperative position when the table is to be folded.

Still an additional object of the invention is to afford simple and effective locking means for holding the upper portions of the inverted U- shaped leg frames in operative position, and which can 'be' easily released to permit folding the leg frames.

To these and otherends, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts that will appear clearly from the following description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, the novel features being pointed out in the claims following the specification.

In the'drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a table incorporatinga preferred embodiment of the invention, the leg frames appearing in full lines inoperative or unfolded position, and showing in dotted lines the position which a leg frame assumes in moving to folded position;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view showing the leg frames folded;

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation looking from right to left of Fig. 1; r

Fig. 4 is an enlarged'detail sectional view on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. '2, showing the leg frame "in operative position as in Fig. 1, andv Fig. 7 is a detail perspective View, partially broken away, showing one channel strip for re ceiving a leg frame and its locking'means.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 2 in which like reference numerals refer to the same parts throughoutthe several views, the in-- vention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment as applied to a rectangular table or body indicated at I formed preferably of metal such'as aluminum and'provided with a stamped curved rim 2 defining its outer edge, and pivotally-supportedcn the underside of the table are two leg frames of inverted U-shape which canbe folded adjacentto the bottom of the table and. when thus folded are housed lengthwise of the table adjacent to said curved rim in juxtarelation to each-other, and which when in operating position extend downwardly beneath the'table' from a pointspaced from the ends thereof to a point approximately in vertical alinementwith the endsof the table so as tosupport the latter firmly and solidly.

To accomplishthis, there are attached to the bottom of "the table I metal angle strips each including a base portion 3 extending endwise of the table in spaced relation to the rim 2 and attached to the bottom by'rivets 4, the angle strips including dependin portions or'flanges 5 extending endwise of the tray and to which links 6 are pivotally attachedat I, the outer ends of the .links being pivotally'connected' at 8 to the legs 9 of the leg-frames which'are of inverted U-shape, and so related that when in operative position, the upper portions of the leg frames rest against the bottom of the table while the legs occupy vertically inclined positions with re-' lation to the table, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and"6.

When in foldedor inoperative position, the leg frames occupy the positions illustrated inFigi 2, being then located in juxtarelation within the rim 2 ofthe table with the top portions Hof the-leg frames arranged at the ends of the table and the legs-9 arranged at the sides of the table between the flanges-5 and the outer portions of rims 2, see Fig. 4, the'leg frames both occupye ing the same horizontal plane with the ends of the legs in juxtaposition, as shown in Fig. 2. The legs are moved from the folded position illustrated in Fig. 2 to the'operative position shown inFig. 1 by first drawing the legs away from the table, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, until the top portions ll of the leg frames are spaced from the table, and'the leg frames can then beswung. on the supporting pivots 8 of links 6 and the links 6 swung on their supporting pivots 1 until the leg frames are in the full-line position illustrated in Fig. 1, to support the table one floor or other surface.

" In'order to retain the leg frames in operative position, transversely arranged strips are provided affording channels, these including base portions l2 which overlie the base portions 3 of the angle strips and are riveted thereto and to the bottom of the tray at l3, see Fig. 2, said strips including transversely extending dependin inner flanges l4 and transversely extending depending outer flanges i5 spaced from the inner flanges I4 and of less height than the inner flanges I4 in order to permit ready clearance of the leg frame when moving from one position to the other, while the greater height of the inner flange l4 affords a lateral brace for the top portion ll of the leg frame when the latter is in operative position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6.

In order to retain the leg frames in operative position with their top portions I 4 supported and retained against the inner flanges i i of the channel strips, there is provided a spring looking means or catch for each channel strip, consistin of a spring-plate l6 riveted at if to the inner depending flange M and having a laterally extending tongue 58 projecting through an opening IS in the flange i l and engageable in an opening 2i provided in the upper portion ii of the U-shaped le frame. The leg frames are preferably of tubular stock of cylindrical crosssection so that when an upper portion H is moved inwardly toward the table and pushed into the channel formed between the flanges I4 and 15, see Fig. 6, the locking tongue i8 is forced outwardly by the engagement of the outer curved surface of the top portion H of the leg frame with the curved end 22 of the tongue 18 until the opening 2i in the leg frame is in position to receive the locking tongue 1 8 which thereupon springs into the opening- 25 and holds the leg frame securely in operative position with the upper portion of the leg frame supported against the inner flange hi of the channel and thereby retained against lateral movement, while the angular or inclined disposition of legs 9, see Fig. 1, in relation to the table tends to retain the upper portions of the leg frames against the inner depending flanges M of the channels and in the channel when weight is supported on the table. To release the leg frames, it is only necessary to engage the free end 23 of each locking plate 16 and pull the locking plate away fromthe upper portion I I of the leg frame sufflciently so that the tongue 1 s clears the opening 2! in the leg frame, which can then be moved away from the table in the manner illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. l and swung inwardly to its folded position.

When the leg frames are folded, the links 6 occupy positions between the longitudinally extending flanges 5 and the legs 8, see Fig. l, and when thus folded, the parts are compactly arranged with the legs and leg frames occupying a minimum space and housed entirely within the longitudinal confines of the table.

The structure affords a table with foldable legs of inverted U-shape which enable supporting the table at maximum height for the size of the leg frames, holding the table firmly and the leg frames in rigid relation thereto when in operative position, and supporting the leg frames in a minimum space and in compact relationship when in their folded or inoperative positions, thereby enabling the table to be transported or stored readily and to be packed conveniently for shipping.

While the invention has been described with reference to the particular structure herein disclosed, it is not confined to the details illustrated and this application is intended to cover such modifications or departures as may come within the purposes of the improvement or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a table of the type including leg frames of inverted U-shape foldably secured to the bottom of the table, the improvement which consists in depending flanges secured to the bottom of the table, lateral strips secured to the bottom of the table and extending perpendicularly to said flanges, the top portions of the leg frames being positionable adjacent to said strips, and spring locking devices carried by said lateral strips and releasably engageable with the top portions of theleg frames, the le frames when locked occupying positions with their top portions arranged adjacent to the lateral strips and with the legs inclining downwardly and outward- 1y with their lower ends approximately in vertical alinement with the ends of the table.

2. In a table of the type including le frames of inverted U-shape foldably secured to the bottom of the table, the improvement which consists in depending flanges extending endwise of and secured to the bottom of the table in spaced relation to its side edges, links having their inner ends pivoted to said flanges and their outer ends pivoted to the legs of the leg frames, retaining strips secured to the bottom of the table spaced from the ends thereof and extending transversely between said longitudinal flanges, the top portions of the leg frames being positionable adjacent to said retaining strips, and spring locking devices carried by said retaining strips and releasably engageable with said top portions of the leg frames, the leg frames when locked occupying positions with their top portions arranged adjacent to the lateral strips and with the legs inclining downwardly and outwardly with their lower ends approximately in vertical alinement with the ends of the table.

3. In a table of the type including leg frames of inverted U-shape foldably secured to the bottom of the table, the improvement which consists in depending flanges extending endwise of and secured to the bottom of the table in spaced relation to its side edges, links havingtheir inner ends pivoted to said flanges and their outer ends pivoted to the legs of the leg frames, channel strips secured to the bottom of the table spaced from the ends thereof and extending transversely between said longitudinal flanges, said channel strips including opposite spaced depending flanges and affordingchannels to receive the top portions of the leg frames, and releasable spring locking devices carried by flanges of said channel strips and engageable with openings in the top portions of the leg frames 4. In a table of the type including leg frames of inverted U-shape foldably secured to the bottom of the table, the improvement which consists in dependin flanges extending endwise of and secured to the bottom of the table in spaced relation to its side edges, links having their inner ends pivoted to said flanges and their outer ends pivoted to the legs of the leg frames, channel strips secured to the bottom of the table spaced from the ends thereof and extending transversely between said longitudinal flanges, said channel strips including opposite spaced depending flanges, the inner flanges being of greater height than the outer flanges, and releasable spring locking tongues carried by said inner flanges and engageable with openings in the top portions of the leg frames when the latter are in operating position, the leg frames when locked to said inner flanges occupying positions with their upper portions arranged in the channels spaced from the ends of the table and the legs inclined downwardly with their lower ends approximately in vertical alinement with the ends of the table and when folded occupying positions in juxtarelation and conforming to the outer edge of the table and between said outer edge and said longitudinal flanges with the ends of the legs in adjacent relationship and the legs arranged in the same horizontal plane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 5 827,673 2,178,248 2,202,624 2,318,945 2,580,618 10 2,657,963

Number Name Date Swart July 31, 1906 Bristow Oct. 31, 1939 De Saussure, Jr. May 28, 1940 Johannsen May 11, 1943 Terrell Jan. 1, 1952 Fox Nov. 3, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain June 4, 1935 

